Central New York to See Near-Record Warmth This Weekend

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Central New York is set to experience a major warmup over the next week, with temperatures forecast to reach the upper 60s on Saturday and Tuesday, just shy of record highs. This follows the coldest February in a decade, with the average temperature about 2 degrees below normal. The warm weather and expected inch or more of rain could lead to minor flooding as melting snow and rainfall runoff into creeks and rivers.

Why it matters

The dramatic temperature swing from an unusually cold February to near-record warmth in early March highlights the unpredictable nature of the region's weather patterns. The rapid warming and melting of snow could pose risks of flooding, while the brief warmup may provide a welcome respite before temperatures drop back to more seasonal levels.

The details

The high temperature on Saturday is forecast to reach 64 degrees, just shy of the record of 68 set in 2012 for March 7. On Tuesday, the high is predicted to hit 64 degrees, 4 degrees below the March 10 record set in 1977. Sunday's high will be in the low 50s, while Monday is likely to reach the mid-60s, though still well below the March 9 record of 78 degrees.

• The warmup is expected to begin this weekend and continue through early next week.
• Saturday, March 7 is forecast to reach a high of 64 degrees, just shy of the record of 68 set in 2012.
• Tuesday, March 10 is predicted to hit a high of 64 degrees, 4 degrees below the record of 68 set in 1977.
• Sunday, March 8 will see a high in the low 50s.
• Monday, March 9 is likely to reach the mid-60s, but well below the record of 78 degrees for that date.

What’s next

The weather service predicts that by late next week, Central New York's high temperatures will drop back into the 40s, about normal for mid-March.